WE SHOULD....................AGAIN 399
much by itself. We are a minority, and will continue to be a minority, and, therefore, it is necessary to seek the co-operation of some parties.”
Dr. Ambedkar then came to the subject of elections. “We are a poor Community and we do not have large sums to spend on elections. So, I suggest that every adult contribute four annas per month to swell the party’s election funds. We must start on this task at once so that we may have collected enough before the elections”.
For hours after the meeting ended Harijans in Central and North Bombay, returning to their homes kept the streets lively with peaceful but noisy pro— Dr. Ambedkar demonstrations.” [1]
However, there were additional dimensions in the speech of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, on the subject which were reported by ‘ the Bombay Chronicle’. The dimensions were :
“ The Law Minister said that his election as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee was a unique honour not only to himself, but a recognition of the Federation as a political force to be reckoned with.
In the past, they had to fight against formidable odds and there were many who dubbed him as a stooges of the British and Muslim League. Throughout the last 20 years, the Congress was at logger-heads with the Federation and they were determined to see that no representative of the Federation got a seat in the Constituent Assembly.
He never dreamt that he would be charged with the responsibility of framing the country’s Constitution. Now the opponents have realised that the Federation was a political force which could not be slighted or ignored.
Dr. Ambedkar said that, hitherto, the Federation had followed a narrow path, namely putting their own interests about those of the country, and he admitted he was partly responsible for it. Now that India has achieved independence, the time has come to change their attitude, and strive for the national good, while, of course, safeguarding their own interests, he observed.
- : Source material, Vol. I, Pp. 360.